Metal modified Y zeolite, its preparation and use

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a metal modified Y zeolite, its preparation and use. Said zeolite contains 1-15 wt % of IVB group metal as oxide and is characterized in that the ratio of the zeolite surface&#39;s IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior&#39;s IVB group metal content is not higher than 0.2; and/or the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the zeolite lattice structure is (0.1-0.8):1.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. CN201310499703.9 and CN201310499736.3, both filed on Oct. 22, 2013, and incorporates by reference the entirety of these two applications.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a metal modified Y zeolite, its preparation and use.

BACKGROUND

Along the catalytic cracking feedstock becomes heavier and heavier, it is essential for the catalytic cracking catalyst to have both higher activity and higher thermal and hydrothermal stabilities to increase the abilities of heavy conversion and anti-heavy metal contamination. Therefore, it is required that the main active component in the catalytic cracking catalyst, i.e. Y zeolite, has high thermal and hydrothermal stabilities, and remains a suitable contribution of acidic active centers.

The rare earth (RE) modified Y zeolite has relative high thermal and hydrothermal stabilities, and is widely used in the FCC catalyst. However, the sharp rise in the rare earth price results in the remarkable increase in the cost of the FCC catalyst. Therefore, it is desirable to introduce other metal ions to the Y zeolite, to reduce the rare earth content in the Y zeolite and to ensure a hydrothermal stability comparable to the Y zeolite with high rare earth content.

CN1350887A, CN1765492A, and US2007010698A1 propose the preparation methods for metal-modified Y zeolites. However, with comparison to the rare earth modified Y zeolite, the above metal-modified Y zeolites are poor in the thermal and hydrothermal stabilities.

CN101898144A and CN101134576A propose the modification to the framework of Y zeolites to increase the thermal and hydrothermal stabilities of Y zeolites. However, the obtained non-rare earth metal-modified Y zeolites produce a low gasoline yield in the catalytic cracking.

SUMMARY

Aiming to the problems in the prior art, the present invention proposes a metal modified Y zeolite and its preparation method. The metal-modified Y zeolite is modified with non-rare earth metal elements, and has thermal and hydrothermal stability comparable to the rare earth modified Y zeolite. And upon being used in the catalytic cracking catalyst, the catalyst can show excellent properties in cracking activities, gasoline yield, and coke selectivity.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a metal modified Y zeolite, characterized in that: the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than 0.2; and/or the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the zeolite lattice structure is (0.1-0.8):1.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing the metal-modified Y zeolite, comprising:

-   (1) a Y-zeolite raw material is subjected to dewatering so that the     raw material has a water content by weight of not higher than 5%; -   (2) the Y zeolite obtained from step (1) is contacted with a mixture     of a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic solvent, and     the resulting mixture is optionally filtered and/or dried; -   (3) the Y zeolite obtained from step (2) is calcined at 300-700° C.,     preferably for at least 0.5 hour, e.g. 0.5-5 hours; -   (4) the Y zeolite obtained from step (3) is contacted with an     aqueous acid solution, and then calcined at 400-800° C. under 1-100%     steam condition for 0.5-5 hours to produce the metal-modified Y     zeolite containing the IVB group metal; the acid concentration, as     H+, is 0.1-2.0 mol/L.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing the metal-modified Y zeolite, comprising:

-   (1) a Y zeolite is treated by contacting with an acid solution     and/or an aqueous EDTA solution; wherein said acid is an organic     acid and/or an inorganic acid; -   (2) the product obtained from the step (1) is dewatered at a     temperature below 400° C., so that the water content in the zeolite     is not higher than 5 wt %; -   (3) the zeolite obtained from the step (2) is impregnated with a     metal in an organic solvent; -   (4) the metal impregnated Y zeolite obtained from the step (3) and     an organic solvent are added to a vessel at a solid-to-liquid weight     ratio of 1:(5-50) and mixed, an inert gas such as one or more of     nitrogen and helium is introduced to the vessel, and the vessel is     kept under a pressure of 0-2.0 MPa (gauge pressure) at a temperature     in the range from room temperature to 200° C. for at least one hour,     e.g. 1-48 hours; filtering and/or drying are optionally conducted,     preferably filtering and drying are conducted; -   (5) the zeolite obtained from the step (4) is calcined; the     calcination is conducted in an inert gas atmosphere, the calcination     temperature is 300-700° C., the calcination time is at least 0.5     hour, e.g. 0.5-5 hours.

In another aspect, the present invention also provides a catalytic cracking catalyst containing the metal-modified Y zeolite and the preparation method thereof.

Specifically, the present invention involves the following technical solutions:

-   1. A metal modified Y zeolite, which contains 1-15 wt % of IVB group     metal as oxide, wherein the metal-modified Y zeolite has a ratio of     the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the     tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the lattice structure     of 0.1-0.8, e.g. 0.2-0.8. -   2. The metal modified Y zeolite of any one of the previous     solutions, which has a specific surface area of 600-850 m²/g or     600-750 m²/g, a unit cell size a0 of 2.448-2.458 nm or 2.450-2.455     nm, a crystallinity of not less than 60%, and optionally a     SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio (framework Si/Al atom ratio) of 5-50, and the     percent of the secondary pores (pore diameter of 6-20 nm) to the     total secondary pores (pore diameter of 2-100 nm) being 30-50% or     50%-65%. -   3. The metal modified Y zeolite of any one of the previous     solutions, wherein the modifying metal is Ti and/or Zr, wherein     relative to the non-modified Y zeolite, the antisymmetric stretching     vibration frequency (1050-1150 cm⁻¹) and the symmetric stretching     vibration frequency (750-820 cm⁻¹) in the infrared spectrum of the     metal-modified Y zeolite do not red-shift in a direction toward the     lower frequency. -   4. The metal-modified Y zeolite of any one of the previous     solutions, which has an anhydrous chemical composition formula, as     oxide and by weight, of (0-2)Na₂O.(1-15)MO₂.(10-25)Al₂O₃.(65-75)SiO₂     or (0.1-1.2)Na₂O.(1-10)MO₂.(20-24)Al₂O₃.(67-74)SiO₂, wherein M is a     IVB group metal, selected from one or more of Ti, Zr, Hf and Rf. -   5. The metal modified Y zeolite of any one of the previous     solutions, wherein the IVB group metal is Ti and/or Zr, and the     metal-modified Y zeolite is free of both framework Ti and framework     Zr. -   6. The metal modified Y zeolite of any one of the previous     solutions, wherein the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group     metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is     not higher than 0.2. -   7. The metal modified Y zeolite of any one of the previous     solutions, wherein the content of the IVB group metal as oxide is     1-10 wt %. -   8. The metal modified Y zeolite of any one of the previous     solutions, wherein the IVB group metal comprises Ti and/or Zr. -   9. A process for preparing a metal modified Y zeolite, comprising     the steps of: -   (1) a Y zeolite is contacted with an acid solution and/or an aqueous     EDTA solution; wherein said acid is an organic acid and/or an     inorganic acid; -   (2) the product obtained from the step (1) is dewatered at a     temperature below 400° C., so that the water content in the zeolite     is not higher than 5 wt %; -   (3) the zeolite obtained from the step (2) is impregnated with a     metal in an organic solvent; -   (4) the metal impregnated Y zeolite obtained from the step (3) and     an organic solvent are added to a vessel at a solid-to-liquid weight     ratio of 1:5-50, an inert gas is introduced to the vessel, and the     vessel is kept under a pressure of 0-2.0 MPa, preferably 0.1-2 MPa     (gauge pressure) at a temperature in the range from room temperature     to 200° C. for at least one hour; filtering and/or drying is     optionally conducted; -   (5) the zeolite obtained from the step (4) is calcined; the     calcination is conducted in an inert gas atmosphere, the calcination     temperature is 300-700° C., the calcination time is 0.5-5 hours. -   10. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (1), the Y zeolite is one or more of NaY, NaHY, NaNH₄Y, NH₄Y,     HY, USY, DASY zeolite, once-exchanged-once-calcined Y zeolite,     twice-exchanged-twice-calcined Y zeolite, and     twice-exchanged-once-calcined Y zeolite. -   11. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (1), the Y zeolite is contacted with the acid solution in a     solid-to-liquid weight ratio of 1:5-1:20 at a temperature in a range     from room temperature to 100° C. for at least 0.5 hour, then     filtered and washed; the acid solution has an acid concentration, as     H⁺, of 0.1-1 mol/L. -   12. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     contact time is 0.5-3 hours; the acid is an inorganic acid and/or an     organic acid; wherein the inorganic acid is one or more of     hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid; and the organic     acid is one or more of formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, citric     acid. -   13. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (2), the dewatering is to calcine the zeolite obtained from the     step (1) at 200-400° C. for 2-10 hours. -   14. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (3), the impregnation with the metal in the organic solvent     comprises the organic solvent in which a compound containing IVB     group metal is solved is mixed with the zeolite obtained from the     step (2), and the resulting mixture is kept for at least 0.5 hour,     wherein the solid-to-liquid weight ratio of the Y zeolite and the     organic solvent is 1:(0.5-5). -   15. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (3), the resulting mixture is kept by standing or being stirred     for 0.5-12 hours. -   16. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (3), the solid-to-liquid weight ratio of the Y zeolite and the     organic solvent is 1:1-2. -   17. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     compound containing IVB group metal is a Ti-containing compound     and/or a Zr-containing compound; the Ti-containing compound is one     or more of titanium sulfate, titanyl sulfate, titanium     tetrachloride, titanium trichloride, tetrabutyl titanate, and     ammonium fluotitanate, and the Zr-containing compound is one or more     of zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium sulphate, zirconium nitrate,     zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, and zirconium     isopropoxide. -   18. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (4), the vessel is kept for 1-48 hours. -   19. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (4), the pressure is 0.5-1.5 MPa, the temperature is from room     temperature to 150° C., the time is 4-24 hours, and the     solid-to-liquid weight ratio of the zeolite and the organic solvent     is 1:5-30. -   20. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (5), the calcination temperature is 450-650° C., and the     calcination time is 1-4 hours. -   21. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent in step (3) and/or (4) has a water content of not     more than 5 wt %. -   22. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein, the     organic solvent in step (3) and/or (4) has a water content of not     more than 3 wt %; and the Y zeolite obtained from the step (2) has a     water content of not more than 3 wt %. -   23. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent is one or more of alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons,     alcohols, ketones, ethers, esters, halogenated alkanes such as     chloridized alkanes. -   24. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent has a normal boiling point of 40-100° C. -   25. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent is preferably one or more of n-hexane, cyclohexane,     heptane, benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone,     butanone, and trichloromethane. -   26. A process for preparing a metal modified Y zeolite, comprising     the steps of: -   (1) a Y-zeolite raw material is subjected to dewatering so that the     raw material has a water content by weight of not higher than 5%; -   (2) the dewatered Y zeolite obtained from step (1) is contacted with     a mixture of a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic     solvent, and the resulting mixture is optionally filtered and/or     dried; -   (3) the Y zeolite obtained from step (2) is calcined at 300-700° C.; -   (4) the Y zeolite obtained from step (3) is contacted with an     aqueous acid solution, and then calcined at 400-800° C. to produce     the metal-modified Y zeolite containing the IVB group metal; the     acid concentration, as H+, is 0.1-2.0 mol/L. -   27. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (2), the mixing weight ratio of the compound containing IVB     group metal, the Y zeolite and the organic solvent is     0.01-0.15:1:1-50, wherein the weight of the compound containing IVB     group metal is calculated as oxide, and the Y zeolite is calculated     in a dry basis. -   28. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (2), the weight ratio of the compound containing IVB group     metal (as oxide):the Y zeolite (dry basis):the organic solvent is     0.01-0.1:1:5-30. -   29. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (2), the procedure of contacting the dewatered Y zeolite     obtained from step (1) with the compound containing IVB group metal     and the organic solvent and optionally filtering and/or drying     comprises: the compound containing IVB group metal, the organic     solvent and the Y zeolite are mixed and contacted at a temperature     in a range from room temperature to 100° C. for at least 0.5 hour,     then optionally filtered, and then optionally dried. -   30. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (2), the procedure of contacting the dewatered Y zeolite     obtained from step (1) with the mixture of the compound containing     IVB group metal and the organic solvent and optionally filtering     and/or drying the resulting mixture is conducted once or more than     once. -   31. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (3), the calcination temperature is 350-650° C., the     calcination time is 2-4 hours, the calcination atmosphere is a dried     air and/or an inert gas. -   32. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (4), the condition for contacting the Y zeolite obtained from     step (3) and the aqueous acid solution comprises: the weight ratio     (solid-to-liquid ratio) of the Y zeolite obtained from step (3) to     the aqueous acid solution is 1:5-20, the contact temperature is in a     range from room temperature to 100° C., the contact time is at least     0.5 hour; the aqueous acid solution has an acid concentration, as     H+, of 0.1-2 mol/L. -   33. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     aqueous acid solution has an acid concentration, as H+, of 0.5-2     mol/L. -   34. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent is one or more of alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons,     alcohols, ketones, ethers, esters, halogenated alkanes such as     chloridized alkanes. -   35. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent is selected from one or more of n-hexane,     cyclohexane, heptane, benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol,     isopropanol, acetone, butanone, trichloromethane. -   36. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent has a normal boiling point of 40-100° C. -   37. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent has a water content of not more than 5 wt %. -   38. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     organic solvent has a water content of not more than 1 wt %. -   39. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (2), the temperature for contacting the dewatered Y zeolite     obtained from step (1) and the mixture of the compound containing     IVB group metal and the organic solvent is such a temperature that     allows the organic solvent in a liquid state. -   40. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     compound containing IVB group metal comprises a Ti-containing     compound and/or a Zr-containing compound. -   41. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein the     Ti-containing compound is one or more of titanium sulfate, titanyl     sulfate, titanium tetrachloride, titanium trichloride, tetrabutyl     titanate, ammonium fluotitanate, and the Zr-containing compound is     one or more of zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium sulphate,     zirconium nitrate, zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, and     zirconium isopropoxide. -   42. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (1), the Y zeolite raw material is one or more of NaY zeolite,     NaHY zeolite, NaNH₄Y zeolite, NH₄Y zeolite and HY zeolite. -   43. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (1), the Y zeolite raw material has a water content, after     dewatering, of not more than 1 wt %. -   44. The process of any one of the previous solutions, wherein in the     step (4), the calcination is conducted in a 1-100% steam atmosphere. -   45. The metal-modified Y zeolite of any one of Solutions 1-8, which     is obtainable or obtained by the process of any one of Solutions     9-44. -   46. A catalytic cracking catalyst, based on the total weight of the     catalyst, containing 10-60 wt % of a metal-modified Y zeolite, 10-60     wt % of a clay and 5-50 wt % of a binder, wherein said     metal-modified Y zeolite is the metal-modified Y zeolite of any one     of Solutions 1-8. -   47. The catalytic cracking catalyst of Solution 46, wherein the     catalytic cracking catalyst contains 20-55 wt % of the IVB group     metal-modified Y zeolite, 15-60 wt % of the clay and 10-40 wt % of     the binder. -   48. The catalytic cracking catalyst of Solution 46 wherein the     catalyst further contains other molecular sieves commonly used in     the catalytic cracking catalyst, said other molecular sieves include     Y-type molecular sieves, MFI-structured molecular sieves, and SAPO     molecular sieves. -   49. The catalytic cracking catalyst of Solution 46, wherein, the     content of other molecular sieves commonly used in the catalytic     cracking catalyst is not more than 40 wt %, such as 1-35 wt %. -   50. A method for preparing the catalytic cracking catalyst, which     comprises the steps of preparing a metal-modified Y zeolite, mixing     and slurrying the metal-modified Y zeolite and a clay and a binder,     and spray-drying the resulting mixture, wherein said metal-modified     Y zeolite is prepared according to the process of any one of     Solutions 9-44. -   51. The method of Solution 50, wherein the clay is selected from one     or more of kaolin, halloysite, rectorite, diatomite,     montmorillonite, bentonite and sepiolite; and the binder is selected     from one or more of hydrated alumina, alumina sol, pseudobohemite,     bohemite, alumina monohydrate, alumina trihydrate, and amorphous     aluminum hydroxyde. -   52. A solution according to any one of the above Solution 1-51,     wherein the metal-modified Y zeolite substantially does not contain     one or more of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Ir, Ni, Pd,     Pt, Cu, Zn, Ag, Au, Cd, Hg, Sc and Y.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a FT-IR spectra for a standard Y zeolite (Y) and the metal-modified Y zeolites prepared in Examples B.1.1.2, B.1.1.6 and B.1.2.4.

FIG. 2 is a ²⁷Al-NMR spectra for a standard Y zeolite (Y) and the metal-modified Y zeolites prepared in Examples B.1.1.2, B.1.2.2 and B.1.2.5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Modified Zeolite

The first metal modified Y zeolite according to the present invention is characterized in that the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than 0.2; e.g. 0.001-0.2; or 0.02-0.18.

The second metal modified Y zeolite according to the present invention is characterized in that the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the zeolite lattice structure is (0.1-0.8):1; (0.2-0.8):1; (0.2-0.6):1; (0.1-0.6):1; or (0.2-0.5):1.

The third metal modified Y zeolite according to the present invention is characterized in that the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than 0.2; e.g. 0.001-0.2; or 0.02-0.18; and the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the zeolite lattice structure is (0.1-0.8):1; (0.2-0.8):1; (0.2-0.6):1; (0.1-0.6):1; or (0.2-0.5):1.

The above three metal-modified Y zeolites are further characterized by one or more of the following features:

-   (1) the content of IVB group metal, as oxide and based on the     metal-modified Y zeolite: 1-15 wt %, or 1-10 wt %; -   (2) the specific surface area: 600-850 m²/g, 600-750 m²/g, or     630-730 m²/g; -   (3) the unit cell size (expressed as a0): 2.448-2.458 nm,     2.450-2.455 nm; 2.449-2.455 nm; or 2.449-2.452 nm; -   (4) the crystallinity: not less than 60%, e.g. 60-120%, or 60-95%;     and -   (5) the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio: 5-50, 5-20, 5-8, 5-6 -   (6) the percent of the secondary pores (pore diameter of 6-20 nm) to     the total secondary pores (pore diameter of 2-100 nm) being 30-50%     or 50%-65%, e.g. 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%.

According to the present invention, the IVB group metal is selected from one or more of Ti, Zr, Hf, and Rf, e.g. one or more of Ti, Zr and Hf, preferably Ti and/or Zr.

According to the present invention, as oxide and by weight, the metal-modified Y zeolite has an anhydrous chemical composition formula, as oxide and by weight, of: (0-2)Na₂O.(1-15)MO₂.(10-25)Al₂O₃(65-75)SiO₂, or (0.1-1.2)Na₂O.(1-10)MO₂.(20-24)Al₂O₃.(67-74)SiO₂; wherein M is a IVB group metal, selected from one or more of Ti, Zr, Hf and Rf.

In the metal-modified Y zeolite according to the present invention, most of the IVB group metal ions are located in the interior of the zeolite, and a small amount of ions are present on the surface of the zeolite. The ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than 0.2.

In the present invention, including the following Examples, the analysis methods for the zeolite are as follows:

The zeolite surface's IVB group metal content refers to the content of the IVB group metal which can be measured in the depth of 2-5 nm from the zeolite's surface by using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The zeolite interior's IVB group metal content refers to the difference between the zeolite bulk's IVB group metal content and the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content. The zeolite bulk's IVB group metal content is the content of IVB group metal in the zeolite that can be obtained through chemical analysis method.

The ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum refers to the ratio of the spectrum peak area at a chemical shift of 40 to that at a chemical shift of 60, as measured by ²⁷Al MAS NMR.

Secondary pores are determined and measured according to the standard method RIPP151-90. A reference can be made to Analytical Methods in Petrochemical Industry (RIPP Experiment Techniques), Yang Cuiding et. al, Science Press, 1990.

The element content is determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

The specific surface area is determined by the BET method.

The unit cell size and the crystallinity are determined by X-ray diffraction according to the standard methods RIPP145-90 and RIPP146-90 respectively. A reference can be made to Analytical Methods in Petrochemical Industry (RIPP Experiment Techniques), Yang Cuiding et. al, Science Press, 1990.

The SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio (i.e. framework Si/Al atom ratio) is determined according to the standard method SH/T0339-92.

Modified Zeolite Preparation Process

The present invention provides a process for preparing the metal-modified Y zeolite, comprising:

-   (1) a Y-zeolite raw material is subjected to dewatering so that the     raw material has a water content by weight of not higher than 5%; -   (2) the dewatered Y zeolite obtained from step (1) is contacted with     a mixture of a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic     solvent, and the resulting mixture is optionally filtered and/or     dried; -   (3) the Y zeolite obtained from step (2) is calcined at 300-700° C.,     preferably for at least 0.5 hours, e.g. 0.5-5 hours; -   (4) the Y zeolite obtained from step (3) is contacted with an     aqueous acid solution, and then calcined at 400-800° C. in a 1-100%     steam condition for 0.5-5 hours to produce the metal-modified Y     zeolite containing the IVB group metal; the acid concentration, as     H⁺, is 0.1-2.0 mol/L.

The metal-modified Y zeolite prepared by the above-mentioned process is characterized by one or more features selected from:

-   (1) most of the IVB group metal ions are located in the interior of     the zeolite, while a small amount of ions are present on the zeolite     surface; -   (2) the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to     the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than     0.2; -   (3) the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to     the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is 0.001-0.2; -   (4) the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to     the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is 0.02-0.18; -   (5) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.2-0.8):1; -   (6) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.2-0.6):1; -   (7) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.1-0.6):1; and -   (8) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.2-0.5):1.     Step (1): Dewatering

The Y zeolite raw material can be one or more of NaY zeolite, NH₄Y zeolite, HY zeolite, NaNH₄Y zeolite and NaHY zeolite, preferably NaY zeolite.

The NaY zeolite can by synthesized by crystallization. After removing the mother liquor, the crystallized zeolite can be used in the present invention directly or after being washed. The NaY zeolite can be commercially available or can be prepared according to the method in the prior art, e.g. the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,191.

The NaNH₄Y zeolite is one obtained by exchanging NaY zeolite with NH₄ ⁺ to a certain extent.

The NaHY zeolite can be obtained by calcining the NaNH₄Y zeolite or by exchanging the NaY zeolite with H⁺ to a certain extent.

The dewatering is preferably conducted at a temperature of not more than 400° C. The dewatering can be done by drying or calcining. The drying can be a conventional drying method or a vacuum drying method. Upon using the calcination to dewater, the calcination temperature is preferably not more than 400° C., e.g. 200-400° C., usually 250-350° C. The conventional drying method includes heat-drying, air-drying, flash-drying, or spray-drying. The drying temperature is usually not higher than 200° C., e.g. 80-200° C. The dewatered zeolite preferably has a water content of not higher than 3 wt %, preferably not higher than 1 wt %.

Step (2): Contact-Optional Filtering-Optional Drying

In the step (2), the dewatered Y zeolite obtained from the step (1) is contacted with a mixture of a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic solvent to introduce the modifying metal into the zeolite.

The contacting process comprises mixing and slurrying a mixture of a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic solvent and the Y zeolite, and being subjected to an ion exchange at the exchange temperature (or the contact temperature).

After the contact, a filtering is optionally conducted. Then, a drying is optionally conducted.

The contact can be done once or more than once. The so-called “more than once” contact means the zeolite obtained from the previous treatment is contacted with a mixture of an organic solvent and a compound of the modifying metal; and after each contact, the filtering is optionally done, and the drying is optionally done. In the case of “more than once” contact, it is preferable to dry after the last contact. In the case of “more than once” contact, the Y zeolite obtained through filtering can be treated directly with a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic solvent, or can be dried and/or calcined, and then treated with a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic solvent.

There can be at least one temperature point in the exchange temperature range, at which point the solvent can be present in a liquid state.

In each contact, the weight ratio of the compound containing IVB group metal (as oxide):Y zeolite (dry basis):the organic solvent is (0.01-0.15):1:(1-50), or (0.01-0.14):1:(5-30), or (0.02-0.11):1:(5-25), or (0.01-0.1):1:(5-30).

The contact time for example is at least 0.5 hour, e.g. 0.5-5 hours, or 1.5-3.5 hours.

The contact temperature can be such a temperature, at which the organic solvent is in a liquid state.

The exchange temperature can be such a temperature range, in which the organic solvent is in a liquid state. Usually, the exchange temperature can be a temperature range, the lower point of which is higher than the solidifying point of the organic solvent, and the upper point of which is lower than the boiling point of the organic solvent. For example, the exchange temperature is, from the room temperature to a temperature which is 20° C. lower than the normal boiling point of the organic solvent; from 0 to 100° C.; from room temperature to 100° C.; from 0 to 100° C. and 20° C. lower than the normal boiling point of the organic solvent; and from room temperature to 100° C. and 20° C. lower than the normal boiling point of the organic solvent. The room temperature is 15-40° C. The normal boiling point means the boiling point at 1 atm.

The drying temperature is usually not more than 200° C., e.g. 0-200° C., from room temperature to 150° C., from room temperature to 120° C., from 100 to 120° C.

The drying time can be 4-48 hours, 12-48 hours.

The IVB group metal can be one or more of Ti, Zr and Hf, preferably Ti and/or Zr. The compound containing IVB group metal can be one or more of compounds containing Ti and/or Zr, e.g. a Ti-containing compound, a Zr-containing compound or a Ti- and Zr-containing compound. The compound containing IVB group metal is preferably soluble in the used organic solvent, for example, its solubility in the organic solvent is not less than 0.1 g of the compound containing IVB group metal/100 g of the organic solvent. The Ti-containing compound can be one or more of titanium sulfate, titanyl sulfate, titanium tetrachloride, titanium trichloride, tetrabutyl titanate, and ammonium fluotitanate, the Zr-containing compound can be one or more of zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium sulphate, zirconium nitrate, zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, and zirconium isopropoxide.

The organic solvent has a water content of not more than 5 wt %, preferably not more than 1 wt %, e.g. not more than 0.1 wt %, not more than 0.01 wt %, or not more than 0.001 wt %. Preferably, in the organic solvent, the content of the organic substance as solvent is not less than 95 wt %, preferably not less than 99 wt %. The organic solvent can be one or more of alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, ethers, esters, halogenated alkanes such as chloridized alkanes. The normal boiling point of the organic solvent (1 atm) is preferably 40-100° C., which is both favorable for the dispersion of the metal component, and favorable for removing the organic solvent. The organic solvent can be, for example, one or more of n-hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, butanone and trichloromethane.

Step (3): Calcination

The calcination temperature can be for example 300-700° C., 350-650° C., 400-620° C., or 450-600° C.

The calcination time can be for example 0.5-5 hours, 1-5 hours, 2-4 hours.

The calcination atmosphere can be for example a dried air, and/or an inert gas atmosphere, preferably an inert gas atmosphere.

The inert gas can be nitrogen and/or helium. In case of the dried air, the water content therein is below 1 vol %, e.g. below 0.5 vol %.

Step (4): Acid Treatment-Calcination

The temperature for contacting the aqueous acid solution with the Y-zeolite obtained from the step (3) is in a range from room temperature to 100° C., e.g. 75-95° C.

The contact time is not less than 0.2 hour, e.g. 0.5-5 hours, The contact solid-to-liquid ratio (the weight ratio of zeolite to the aqueous acid solution) is 1:5-20, e.g. 1:6-14.

The concentration of the used aqueous acid solution, as H⁺, is 0.1-2 mol/L, 0.5-2 mol/L, 0.5-1.5 mol/L. After contact, the filtering is done. After filtering, the acid-contacted zeolite is washed with water to remove free acid, and then dried and calcined. The calcination temperature is 400-800° C., 500-600° C. The calcination atmosphere is a 1-100% steam condition. The calcination time is 0.5-5 hours, or 1-3 hours. The acid used in the step (4) is selected from one or more of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, preferably one or more of hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, and formic acid.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing the metal-modified Y zeolite, which comprises:

-   (1) a Y zeolite is treated by contacting with an acid solution     and/or an aqueous EDTA solution; wherein said acid is an organic     acid and/or an inorganic acid; -   (2) the product obtained from the step (1) is dewatered at a     temperature below 400° C., so that the water content in the zeolite     is not higher than 5 wt %; -   (3) the zeolite obtained from the step (2) is impregnated with a     metal in an organic solvent; -   (4) the metal impregnated Y zeolite obtained from the step (3) and     an organic solvent are added to a vessel at a solid-to-liquid weight     ratio of 1:5-50, an inert gas such as nitrogen and/or helium is     introduced to the vessel, and the vessel is kept under a pressure of     0-2.0 MPa (gauge pressure) at a temperature in the range from room     temperature to 200° C. for at least one hour, e.g. 1-48 hours;     filtering and/or drying is optionally conducted, and filtering and     drying are preferably conducted; -   (5) the zeolite obtained from the step (4) is calcined; the     calcination is conducted in an inert gas atmosphere, the calcination     temperature is 300-700° C., the calcination time is 0.5-5 hours, or     more than 0.5 hour.

The metal-modified Y zeolite prepared by the above-mentioned process is characterized by one or more features selected from:

-   (1) most of the IVB group metal ions are located in the interior of     the zeolite, while a small amount of ions are present on the zeolite     surface; -   (2) the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to     the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than     0.2; -   (3) the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to     the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is 0.001-0.2; -   (4) the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to     the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is 0.02-0.18; -   (5) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.2-0.8):1; -   (6) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.2-0.6):1; -   (7) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.1-0.6):1; and -   (8) the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework     aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the     zeolite lattice structure is (0.2-0.5):1.     Step (1): Contact

The Y zeolite as starting material can be one or more of NaY, NaHY, NaNH₄Y, NH₄Y, HY, USY, once-exchanged-once-calcined Y zeolite, DASY zeolite, twice-exchanged-twice-calcined Y zeolite, twice-exchanged-once-calcined Y zeolite.

The once-exchanged-once-calcined Y zeolite for example can be the Y zeolite obtained by subjecting a NaY zeolite to once-exchanging-once-calcination; DASY zeolite for example can be the Y zeolite obtained by subjecting a Y zeolite to calcination in presence of steam; The twice-exchanged-twice-calcined Y zeolite for example can be the Y zeolite obtained by subjecting a NaY zeolite to twice-exchanging-twice-calcination; The twice-exchanged-once-calcined Y zeolite for example can be the Y zeolite obtained by subjecting a NaY zeolite to twice-exchanging-once-calcination; and preferably, the exchange is conducted with H⁺ and/or NH₄ ⁺. The weight ratio between the Y zeolite (dry basis) and the acid solution (the aqueous acid solution) or the aqueous EDTA solution (the solid-to-liquid ratio) is 1:5-20. The contact temperature is in a range from room temperature to 100° C. The contact time is at least 0.5 hour, e.g. 0.5-3 hours. After the contact, the filtering and washing can be done. The acid concentration of the acid solution, as H⁺, is 0.1-1 mol/L, 0.2-0.5 mol/L or 0.5-1 mol/L. The acid can be an inorganic acid and/or an organic acid. The inorganic acid can be one or more of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid; the organic acid can be one or more of formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid. In the step (1), the washing can be done with water such as deionized water and distillated water to remove the acid in the zeolite. For example, the weight ratio of water to zeolite can be 5-20:1. The treated zeolite obtained from the step (1) has a Na₂O content of not higher than 4.0 wt % and preferably not higher than 2.0 wt %.

Step (2)—Calcination

The treated zeolite obtained from the step (1) can be calcined to remove the adsorbed water. Through the calcination, the water content in the zeolite is not higher than 5 wt %, for example not higher than 3 wt %.

The calcination temperature can be 200-400° C., e.g. 300-350° C.

The calcination time can be 2-10 hours, e.g. 2-4 hours.

The solid content of the calcined zeolite is not less than 95 wt %, not less than 97 wt %, or 97-99.9 wt %.

Step (3)

The zeolite being impregnated with a metal in an organic solvent comprises mixing the compound containing IVB group metal in the organic solvent and the zeolite, and keeping the mixture for at least 0.5 hours, e.g. 0.5-12 hours with stirring or without stirring (by standing). For example, the mixture was kept with stirring for 0.5-12 hours. Then, the next step can be conducted, for example, by proceeding with the step (4), or repeating the step (3). The introduction of modifying metal(s) into the Y zeolite can be done through one or more than one impregnations. The solid-to-liquid weight ratio of the Y zeolite to the organic solvent can be 1:(0.5-5), 1:(1-2), 1:(1-4), or 1:(1.1-1.6). The impregnation temperature is one that can make the organic solvent be in a liquid state. The impregnation can be done in a manner of isometric impregnation or excessive impregnation. The impregnation temperature is not particularly limited, for example, the impregnation can be done at room temperature.

The IVB group metal is selected from one or more of Ti, Zr, Hf and Rf, preferably Ti and/or Zr. The compound containing IVB group metal can be one or more of a Ti-containing compound, a Zr-containing compound, a Hf-containing compound, a Rf-containing compound, e.g. a Ti-containing compound and/or a Zr-containing compound. The compound containing IVB group metal can be an inorganic salt and/or an organometallic compound of IVB group metal, for example, the Ti-containing compound can be one or more of titanium sulfate, titanyl sulfate, titanium tetrachloride, titanium trichloride, tetrabutyl titanate, and ammonium fluotitanate. The Zr-containing compound can be one or more of zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium sulphate, zirconium nitrate, zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, and zirconium isopropoxide.

The organic solvent has a water content of not higher than 5 wt %, or not higher than 3 wt %, or not higher than 1 wt %. The organic solvent can be one or more of alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, ethers, esters, halogenated alkanes such as chloridized alkanes. The organic solvent can have a normal boiling point of 40-100° C. The organic solvent is preferably one or more of n-hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, butanone, trichloromethane.

Step (4) Introducing an Inert Gas-Optional Filtering-Optional Drying

The impregnated zeolite and the organic solvent are placed in a reaction vessel such as autoclave.

The solid-to-liquid weight ratio of the zeolite to the organic solvent is 1:(5-50), e.g. 1:(5-30) or 1:(5-10). Generally, the organic solvent used in the step (4) is identical to that used in the step (3). An inert gas such as nitrogen and helium can be introduced to the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel pressure (gauge pressure) is 0.0-2.0 MPa, or 0.5-1.5 MPa. The reaction vessel temperature is from room temperature to 200° C., from room temperature to 150° C., or from room temperature to 90° C. The substances in the reaction vessel can be kept by standing or under stirring for at least 1 hour, usually 1-48 hours, 2-24 hours, or 4-24 hours.

Then, the filtering and/or drying can be optionally conducted. The filtering and the drying are preferably conducted so that the zeolite can be separated from the organic solvent. The filtering and the drying can be conventionally conducted. The existing drying process can be adopted, such as air-drying, flash-drying and spray-drying. For example, the drying temperature can be 100-200° C. For example, the drying time can be 1 second to 2 days, e.g. 6-24 hours.

Step (5) Calcination

The zeolite obtained from the step (4) is calcined; the calcination is conducted in an inert gas atmosphere, the calcination temperature is 300-700° C., the calcination time is 0.5-5 hours, or more than 0.5 hour.

The calcination is conducted in an inert gas atmosphere. The calcination temperature is 300-700° C., 450-650° C. or 500-600° C. The calcination time is 0.5-5 hours, or 1-4 hours. The inert gas comprises one or more of nitrogen and helium.

Catalytic Cracking Catalyst

The present invention further provides a catalytic cracking catalyst, based on the total weight of the catalyst, containing 20-60 wt % of the IVB group metal modified Y zeolite according to the present invention, 10-60 wt % of a clay and 5-50 wt % of a binder.

Method for Preparing Catalytic Cracking Catalyst

The present invention also provides a method for preparing the catalytic cracking catalyst, which comprises the steps of mixing and slurrying the metal-modified Y zeolite according to the present invention and a clay and a binder, and spray-drying the resulting mixture. For example, deionized water, the clay and the binder can be mixed and slurried, and to the resulting slurry is added the modified Y zeolite. The technology of spray-drying and calcination are well known in the prior art, and therefore would not be discussed in detail.

According to the present invention, the clay is selected from one or more of kaolin, halloysite, rectorite, diatomite, montmorillonite, bentonite, and sepiolite, which are well known in the art.

According to the present invention, the binder refers to a substance, which can form a heat-resistant inorganic oxide after calcination. The heat resistant inorganic oxide comprises one or more of alumina, silica, amorphous silica-alumina, preferably alumina. The binder is preferably selected from one or more of hydrated alumina, alumina sol, pseudobohemite, bohemite, alumina trihydrate, alumina monohydrate, and amorphous aluminum hydroxide. These different binders can transfer to the form of γ-Al₂O₃ after calcination. These binders are well known in the art.

The IVB metal-modified Y zeolite according to the present invention has high crystallinity, large specific surface area, and high thermal and hydrothermal stability.

According to the present invention, Y zeolite is modified with the IV group metal, without using the costly rare earth material. And the modified Y zeolite according to the present invention can provide a comparable or better thermal and hydrothermal stability than the rare earth modified Y zeolite.

The modified Y zeolite according to the present invention can be used in the catalytic cracking catalyst to substitute the rare-earth modified Y zeolite. The catalyst cost can be remarkably reduced.

The catalytic cracking catalyst according to the present invention shows excellent performance in cracking activities, gasoline yield, and coke selectivity.

EXAMPLE

In the following Examples, the used room temperature is 15-40° C. such as 26° C.

The light oil micro-activity (MA) is measured according to the standard method RIPP92-90, wherein 5 g of the catalyst is used. The reaction temperature is 460° C. The feedstock is a straight run light diesel having a distillation range of 235-337° C. The product composition is analyzed by gas chromatography. According to the product composition, the micro-activity is calculated, as follows: light oil micro-activity (MA)=(the gasoline output (<216° C.)+gas output+coke output)/feedstock input×100%

In the Examples and Comparative Examples, the used starting materials are commercially available and their detailed specifications are as follows.

Zeolite raw materials, industrial product, available from Sinopec Catalyst Company, Qilu Division.

ReCl₃ (Mixed rare earth chloride), industrial grade, available from Sinopec Catalyst Company, Qilu Division.

Other Agents: Chemically Pure, unless Indicated to the Contrary

The secondary pore volume is measured according to the standard method RIPP151-90. A reference can be made to Analytical Methods in Petrochemical Industry (RIPP Experiment Techniques), Yang Cuiding et. al, Science Press, 1990. According to the adsorption isotherm, the total pore volume of the zeolite is measured. Then the micro-pore volume of the zeolite is measured from the adsorption isotherm according to the T plotting method. The total pore volume minus the micro-pore volume leaves the secondary pore volume, and the percent of the secondary pores (pore diameter of 6-20 nm) to the total secondary pores (pore diameter of 2-100 nm) is calculated from the secondary pore distribution of the zeolite.

A.1 Zeolite Modification

Example A.1.1.1

200 g of NaY zeolite was calcined at 300° C. for 3 hours (after calcination, the water content was 1 wt %). After being cooled to room temperature, it was placed in 2000 g of ethanol (the ethanol content=99.9 wt %). The resulting slurry was stirred homogenously. To the slurry was added 10.5 g of zirconium nitrate (Zr(NO₃)₄.5H₂O). Then, the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, and filtered. The filter cake was dried in a baker at 100° C. for 24 hours, and then calcined at 600° C. for 2 hours.

The above calcined Y zeolite was added to 2000 g of an aqueous inorganic acid solution with an acid concentration of 1.0 mol/L (a diluted hydrochloric acid solution). The resulting mixture was mixed homogenously, stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours, then filtered, washed with deionized water (the weight of washing water was 15 times larger than the dry basis weight of the zeolite), and filtered. The filter cake was removed, and calcined in a 100% steam at 600° C. for 1 hour. Finally, the Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(2)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.1.2

200 g of NaY zeolite was vacuumized at 200° C. under 0.001 Pa for 4 hours. After being cooled to room temperature (water content=0.5 wt %), it was placed in 1500 g of ethanol (ethanol content=99.9 wt %). The resulting slurry was stirred homogenously. To the slurry was added 15.7 g of zirconium oxychloride (ZrOCl₂.8H₂O). Then, the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, and filtered. The filter cake was dried in a baker at 100° C. for 24 hours, and then calcined at 500° C. for 3 hours.

The above calcined Y zeolite was added to 1500 g of an aqueous oxalic acid solution with an acid concentration of 2.0 mol/L. The resulting mixture was mixed homogenously, warmed upto 90° C., stirred for 1 hour, then filtered, and washed with deionized water (the weight of washing water was 15 times larger than the dry basis weight of the zeolite). The filter cake was removed, and calcined in a 100% steam at 500° C. for 2 hour. Finally, the Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(4)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.1.3

200 g of NaY zeolite was calcined at 300° C. for 3 hours. After being cooled to room temperature (water content=1 wt %), it was placed in 1000 g of n-hexane (n-hexane content=99.5 wt %). The resulting slurry was stirred homogenously. To the slurry was added 37.8 g of zirconium isopropoxide. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, and filtered. The filter cake was dried in a baker at 120° C. for 48 hours, and then calcined at 500° C. (in a dried air atmosphere, the water content in the air was not more than 0.2 vol %) for 4 hours.

The above calcined Y zeolite was added to 1000 g of an aqueous inorganic acid (sulfuric acid) solution with an acid concentration of 0.5 mol/L. The resulting mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours, then filtered, and washed with deionized water (the weight of washing water was 20 times larger than the dry basis weight of the zeolite). The filter cake was removed, and calcined at 500° C., under a 100% steam atmosphere for 3 hours. Finally, the Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(8)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.1.4

200 g of NaY zeolite was calcined at 300° C. for 3 hours. After being cooled to room temperature, it was placed in 1000 g of butanone (butanone content=99.5 wt %). The resulting slurry was stirred homogenously. To the slurry was added 14.2 g of titanium tetrachloride. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, and filtered. The filter cake was dried in a baker at 120° C. for 24 hours, and then calcined at 450° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for 4 hours.

The above calcined Y zeolite was added to 1000 g of an aqueous inorganic acid (hydrochloric acid) solution with an acid concentration of 0.5 mol/L. The mixture was mixed homogenously, stirred at 80° C. for 2 hours, then filtered, and washed with deionized water (the weight of washing water was 10 times larger than the dry basis weight of the zeolite). The filter cake was removed, and calcined at 500° C. in a 100% steam atmosphere for 2 hours. Finally, the Ti-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Ti(4)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.1.5

200 g of NaY zeolite was vacuumized at 300° C. under 0.001 Pa for 4 hours. After being cooled to room temperature, it was placed in 2000 g of cyclohexane (cyclohexane content=99.9 wt %). The resulting slurry was stirred homogenously. To the slurry was added 63.9 g of tetrabutyl titanate. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, and filtered. The filter cake was dried at 100° C. in a baker for 48 hours, and then calcined at 600° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for 2 hours.

The above calcined Y zeolite was added to 2000 g of an aqueous oxalic acid solution with an acid concentration of 1.5 mol/L. The mixture was mixed homogenously, stirred at 90° C. for 1 hour, then filtered, and washed with deionized water (the weight of washing water was 20 times larger than the dry basis weight of the zeolite). The filter cake was removed, and calcined at 600° C. in a 100% steam atmosphere for 2 hours. Finally, the Ti-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Ti(10)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.1.6

200 g of NaY zeolite was vacuumized at 300° C. under 0.001 Pa for 4 hours. After being cooled to room temperature, it was placed in 3000 g of ethanol (ethanol content=99.9 wt %). The resulting slurry was stirred homogenously. To the slurry were added 3.6 g of titanium tetrachloride and 31.5 g of zirconium nitrate. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, and filtered. The filter cake was dried at 100° C. in a baker for 48 hours, and then calcined at 550° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere for 3 hours.

The above calcined Y zeolite was added to 3000 g of an aqueous inorganic acid (nitric acid) solution with an acid concentration of 1.0 mol/L. The mixture was mixed homogenously, stirred at 80° C. for 2 hours, then filtered, and washed with deionized water (the weight of washing water was 20 times larger than the dry basis weight of the zeolite). The filter cake was removed, and calcined at 550° C. under a 100% steam atmosphere for 3 hours. Finally, the Ti- and Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Ti—Zr—Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.1.7

A modified zeolite was prepared according to Example A.1.1.4, except that after being treated with the inorganic acid, the filter cake was firstly dried, and then calcined at 500° C. in an air atmosphere to produce the modified zeolite named as Ti(4)Y-1.

Example A.1.2.1

200 g of NaY zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried. To the resulting slurry was added 45 mL of a solution of 270 g/l RECl₃. The mixture was adjusted with a diluted hydrochloric acid to pH=3.8, and warmed upto 80° C. to exchange for 1 hour. After filtering and washing, the resulting filter cake was calcined at 500° C. for 3 hours. Then, the resulting Y zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried. To the slurry was added 45 g of ammonium sulfate. The mixture was adjusted with a diluted hydrochloric acid to pH=4.0, and warmed upto 80° C. to exchange for 1 hour. After filtering and washing, the resulting filter cake was calcined at 600° C., under a 100% steam atmosphere for 3 hours. Finally, a RE-modified zeolite was obtained and named as RE(8)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.2.2

200 g of NaY zeolite was placed in 2000 g of deionized water. The resulting slurry was stirred homogenously. To the slurry was added 31.4 g of zirconium oxychloride ZrOCl₂.8H₂O. The mixture was warmed upto 90° C., stirred for 3 hours, and filtered. The filter cake was dried at 100° C. in a baker for 12 hours, and calcined at 500° C. for 3 hours. Then the calcined Y zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried. To the resulting slurry was added 45 g of ammonium sulfate. The mixture was adjusted with a diluted hydrochloric acid to pH=4.0, and warmed upto 80° C. to exchange for 1 hour. After filtering and washing, the filter cake was calcined at 500° C. in a 100% steam atmosphere for 2 hours. Finally, the Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(W)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.2.3

A modified zeolite was prepared according to Example A.1.2.2, except that 14.2 g of titanium tetrachloride was used in place of 31.4 g of zirconium oxychloride ZrOCl₂.8H₂O. Finally, the Ti-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Ti(W)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.2.4

A Zr-modified Y zeolite was prepared according to Example 1 of CN101134576A. Finally, the Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(G)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table A1.

Example A.1.2.5

200 g of NH₄USY (Si/Al atom ratio=5.2) was added to 500 g of absolute ethanol under a violent stirring to form a suspension, to which was added 50 g/L of a solution of butyl titanate-absolute ethanol (as TiO₂) under a violent stirring. The mixture was air-dried overnight under stirring. The resulting sample was calcined at 500° C. for 5 hours to produce Ti-modified zeolites with titanium content of 2.4 wt % and 9.1 wt %, named as DT2 and DT9.

TABLE A1 Physical and chemical properties of metal-modified Y zeolites Example A.1.1.X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sample Zr(2)Y Zr(4)Y Zr(8)Y Ti(4)Y Ti(10)Y Ti—Zr—Y Ti(4)Y-1 α0, nm 2.452 2.450 2.449 2.451 2.449 2.449 2.455 crystallinity, % 77.6 73.7 70.3 72.6 69.1 68.8 73.0 Na₂O, wt % 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.8 1.0 0.9 Al₂O₃, wt % 22.8 22.5 21.8 22.8 21.3 20.9 22.8 SiO₂, wt % 73.6 72.5 69.7 72.1 68.8 70.5 72.0 ZrO₂, wt % 2.1 3.8 7.3 0 0 5.5 0 TiO₂, wt % 0 0 0 3.7 8.6 1.9 3.7 RE₂O₃, wt % 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 specific surface area, m²/g 676 710 690 726 702 640 722 lattice collapse temperature, ° C. 1048 1044 1051 1046 1050 1051 1045 the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group 0.05 0.10 0.12 0.08 0.16 0.15 0.10 metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content the ratio of the distorted 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.3 tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum The percent of the secondary pores (pore 48.2 50.6 57.8 52.4 62.4 64.5 51.8 diameter of 6-20 nm) to the total secondary pores (pore diameter of 2-100 nm) Example A.1.2.X 1 2 3 4 5 Sample RE(8)Y Zr(W)Y Ti(W)Y Zr(G)Y DT2 DT9 α0, nm 2.451 2.450 2.452 2.451 2.458 2.448 crystallinity, % 62.7 50.6 53.9 64.2 69.9 63.0 Na₂O, wt % 1.0 0.8 1.0 0.8 1.1 1.2 Al₂O₃, wt % 21.7 21.9 21.8 20.8 21.2 21.8 SiO₂, wt % 70.5 69.9 72.8 70.7 74.8 67.2 ZrO₂, wt % 0 7.0 0 7.5 0 0 TiO₂, wt % 0 0 3.9 0 2.4 9.1 RE₂O₃, wt % 6.6 0 0 0 0 0 specific surface area, m²/g 640 548 526 624 535 520 lattice collapse temperature, ° C. 1043 1028 1015 1030 1036 1036 the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal — 1.8 1.2 — 1.0 1.3 content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated — 0.05 0.06 0.02 0.01 0.04 framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum A.2 Stability of the Modified Zeolite

Modified Y zeolites prepared according to Examples A.1.1.1-A.1.1.7 and A.1.2.1-A.1.2.5 were aged at 800° C. under a 100% steam condition for 8 hours to determine the crystallinity and the specific surface area, and the crystallinity retention and the specific surface area retention were calculated. The results were listed in Table A2. The aged zeolites were subjected to the light oil micro-activity (MA) test. The results were listed in Table A2.

TABLE A2 Physical and chemical properties of the metal-modified Y zeolites after the hydrothermal aging Example A.2.1.X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Y zeolite Zr(2)Y Zr(4)Y Zr(8)Y Ti(4)Y Ti(10)Y Ti—Zr—Y Ti(4)Y-1 Crystallinity retention, % 60.5 62.1 64.7 63.9 65.9 66.3 63.2 Specific surface area retention, % 62.4 65.0 66.7 64.1 67.8 68.0 65.2 800° C./8 h, activity 81 84 86 85 86 87 84 Example A.2.2.X 1 2 3 4 5 Y zeolite RE(8)Y Zr(W)Y Ti(W)Y Zr(G)Y DT2 DT9 Crystallinity retention, % 63.2 45.5 50.2 60.8 60.2 62.0 Specific surface area retention, % 65.5 50.8 51.6 64.9 61.6 62.9 800° C./8 h, activity 84 75 75 80 70 72

Example A.2.1.8

According to Example A.1.1.5, Ti-modified Y zeolites having Ti contents (as TiO₂) of 1 wt %, 2 wt %, 7 wt %, 12 wt %, 15 wt % were prepared. The physical and chemical properties were listed in Table A3. These Ti-modified Y zeolites were aged at 800° C. under a 100% steam condition for 8 hours to determine the crystallinity and the specific surface area, and the crystallinity retention and the specific surface area retention were calculated. The aged zeolites were subjected to the light oil micro-activity (MA) test. The results were listed in Table A3.

Example A.2.2.6

According to Example A.1.2.1, RE-modified Y zeolites having RE contents of 1 wt %, 2 wt %, 12 wt %, 15 wt % were prepared. The physical and chemical properties were listed in Table A3. These RE-modified Y zeolites were aged at 800° C. under a 100% steam condition for 8 hours to determine the crystallinity and the specific surface area, and the crystallinity retention and the specific surface area retention were calculated. The aged zeolites were subjected to the light oil micro-activity (MA) test. The results were listed in Table A3.

TABLE A3 Example A.2.1.8 Example A.2.2.6 TiO₂, wt % 1.0 2.0 7.0 12.0 15.0 0 0 0 0 RE₂O₃, wt % 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 2.0 12.0 15.0 Na₂O, wt % 1.1 0.9 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.9 Al₂O₃, wt % 23.2 22.8 21.4 19.2 16.5 22.0 21.8 20.2 17.2 SiO₂, wt % 73.3 72.8 68.7 66.9 67.1 74.5 73.5 66.0 66.2 α0, nm 2.449 2.450 2.452 2.455 2.455 2.455 2.457 2.458 2.460 Crystallinity, % 71.2 70.6 72.8 71.1 69.8 70.2 68.4 62.2 60.8 specific surface 674 680 690 666 645 620 653 560 490 area, m²/g Lattice collapse 1042 1045 1050 1046 1046 1030 1044 1045 1045 temperature, ° C. the ratio of the 0.02 0.05 0.12 0.15 0.17 zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content Zeolite No. Ti(1)Y Ti(2)Y Ti(7)Y Ti(12)Y Ti(15)Y After the hydrothermal aging Crystallinity 62.2 61.2 63.6 66.0 64.5 60.0 63.4 66.2 65.0 retention, % Specific surface 61.9 63.8 63.4 67.7 66.6 62.2 64.5 67.0 65.9 area retention, % 800° C./8 h, 82 85 87 85 85 80 82 83 83 activity A.3 Catalyst

Example A.3.1.1

The modified Y zeolite prepared according to the present invention, Zr(8)Y, was used as active component to prepare the catalyst according to the conventional preparation method of the catalytic cracking catalyst. The preparation was as follows. According to the ratio of zeolite (dry basis):kaolin (dry basis):pseudobohemite (as Al₂O₃):alumina sol (as Al₂O₃) being 38:34:20:8, kaolin and decationized water were mixed and slurried. To the resulting slurry was added alumina sol, and further added pseudoboehmite under a continuous stirring. After 30 minutes of stirring, a liquor containing zeolite was added to the colloid. The resulting mixture was mixed homogenously, spray-dried and shaped to produce a catalyst, named as C1.

The catalyst was pretreated at 800° C. in a 100% steam condition for 17 hours. Then the pretreated catalyst was tested on a small-scale fixed fluidised bed (ACE) for catalyst evaluation. The feedstock for evaluation was Wuhun III, the properties of which were shown in Table A4. Reaction temperature, catalyst-to-oil ratio, WHSV and evaluation result were listed in Table A5.

wherein, conversion=gasoline yield+liquefied gas yield+Dry gas yield+coke yield coke selectivity=coke yield*100/conversion

Example A.3.2.1

A catalyst was prepared according to Example A.3.1.1, except that the same amount of RE(8)Y zeolite was used in place of Zr(8)Y zeolite to produce a catalyst named as DC1. Then DC1 was evaluated according to Example A.3.1.1. The evaluation result was listed in Table A5.

Example A.3.2.2

A catalyst was prepared according to Example A.3.1.1, except that the same amount of Zr(W)Y zeolite was used in place of Zr(8)Y zeolite to produce a catalyst named as DC2. Then DC2 was evaluated according to Example A.3.1.1. The evaluation result was listed in Table A5.

TABLE A4 Feedstock Wuhun III Density (20° C.), g/cm³ 0.9044 Refraction (20° C.) 1.5217 Viscosity (100° C.), mm²/s 9.96 Freezing point, ° C. 40 Aniline point, ° C. 95.8 C, wt % 85.98 H, wt % 12.86 S, wt % 0.55 N, wt % 0.18 Residual Carbon, wt % 3.0 Distillation range, ° C. Initial distillation point  5% 243 10% 294 30% 316 50% 395 70% 429 90% 473 —

TABLE A5 Example A.3.1.1 A.3.2.1 A.3.2.2 Catalyst C1 DC1 DC2 Reaction Temp, ° C. 500 500 500 Catalyst-to-oil weight ratio 5 5 5 WHSV, h⁻¹ 16 16 16 Production Distribution, wt % Dry gas 1.15 1.10 1.18 liquefied gas 11.15 11.66 12.03 coke 4.02 5.45 4.65 gasoline 56.40 53.08 50.30 diesel 20.17 21.46 23.02 Heavy oil 7.11 7.25 8.82 Conversion, wt % 72.72 71.29 68.16 Coke selectivity 5.53 7.64 6.82

Example A.3.1.2

According to Example A.1.1.1, the used amount of zirconium nitrate was adjusted to prepare a Zr-modified Y zeolite, named as Zr(6)Y, wherein the ratio of the used amount of zirconium nitrate (as ZrO₂) to the weight amount of the zeolite was 6:100 by weight.

323 g of pseudobohemite (having a solid content of 62 wt %) and 1343 g of deionized water were mixed. The mixture was stirred for 15 minutes and mixed homogenously to produce a pseudoboehmite slurry, the pH value of which was adjusted with diluted hydrochloric acid to 3.5. The resulting slurry was aged at room temperature for 6 hours. To the aged slurry were added 447 g of kaolin (having a solid content of 76 wt %) and 372 g of alumina sol (having an alumina content of 21.5 wt %). The resulting slurry was stirred for 60 minutes. To the above slurry was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Zr(6)Y zeolite and 880 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 550° C. for 1 hour to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C11. The ZrO₂ content of the catalyst C11, measured by XRF, was 2.2 wt %.

Example A.3.1.3

A Zr-modified Y zeolite was prepared according to Example A.1.1.2, named as Zr(10)Y, wherein ZrO2:zeolite=10:100.

421 g of kaolin (having a solid content of 76 wt %), 465 g of alumina sol (having an alumina content of 21.5 wt %) and 732 g of deionized water were added to and slurried in a slurry vessel, to which was added 1667 g of an acidified pseudoboehmite (being acidified with hydrochloric acid, the mole ratio of hydrochloric acid/alumina=0.15, and having a solid content of 12 wt %). After stirring for 60 minutes, to the vessel was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Zr(10)Y zeolite and 880 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 550° C. for 1 hour to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C21. The ZrO₂ content of the catalyst C21, measured by XRF, was 3.5 wt %.

Example A.3.1.4

447 g of kaolin, 372 g of alumina sol and 800 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried for 60 minutes. After adding 1667 g of an acidified pseudobohemite, the resulting slurry was further stirred for 60 minutes. To the resulting mixture was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Ti(2)Y zeolite and 880 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 650° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C31. The TiO₂ content of the catalyst C31, measured by XRF, was 0.75 wt %.

Example A.3.1.5

447 g of kaolin, 372 g of alumina sol and 800 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried for 60 minutes. After adding 1667 g of an acidified pseudobohemite, the resulting slurry was further stirred for 60 minutes. To the resulting mixture was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Ti(4)Y zeolite and 880 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 650° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as 41. The TiO₂ content of the catalyst C41, measured by XRF, was 1.5 wt %.

Example A.3.1.6

A catalyst was prepared according to Example A.3.1.5, except that the same amount of Ti(4)Y-1 was used in place of the Ti(4)Y zeolite to produce the catalyst, named as C41-1.

Example A.3.1.7

A catalyst was prepared according to Example A.3.1.5, except that a REY zeolite prepared according to the prior method (SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio=5.1, rare earth content=3.8 wt %, Na2O content=0.4 wt %) was used in place of a part of the Ti(4)Y zeolite. The weight ratio of the REY zeolite prepared according to the prior method to the Ti(4)Y zeolite was 1:1 to produce a catalyst, named as C41-2.

Example A.3.1.8

According to Example A.1.1.4, the used amount of titanium tetrachloride was adjusted to prepare a Ti-modified Y zeolite, named as Ti(8)Y, wherein the ratio of the used amount of titanium tetrachloride (as TiO₂) to the weight amount of the zeolite was 8:100 by weight.

421 g of kaolin, 698 g of alumina sol and 900 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried for 60 minutes. After adding 1250 g of an acidified pseudobohemite, the resulting slurry was further stirred for 60 minutes.

To the resulting mixture was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Ti(8)Y zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 700° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C51. The TiO₂ content of the catalyst C51, measured by XRF, was 3.0 wt %.

Example A.3.1.9

The same starting materials as those used in Example A.3.1.2 were used, except for the metal-modified Y zeolite.

355 g of pseudoboehmite and 1478 g of deionized water were mixed and stirred for 30 minutes to produce a pseudoboehmite slurry, the pH of which was adjusted with a suitable amount of diluted hydrochloric acid to 3.8. The resulting slurry was aged at 60° C. for 2 hours. To the aged slurry were added 395 g of kaolin and 465 g of alumina sol. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes. Then to the slurry was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Ti—Zr—Y zeolite and 880 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 600° C. for 3 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C61.

Example A.3.2.3

A catalyst was prepared according to Example A.3.1.8, except that the same amount of RE(8)Y zeolite was used in place of Ti(8) Y zeolite to produce a catalyst, named as DC11. The RE₂O₃ content of the catalyst DC11, measured by XRF, was 2.32 wt %.

Example A.3.2.4

A catalyst was prepared according to Example A.3.1.8, except that the same amount of Ti(W)Y zeolite was used in place of Ti(8)Y zeolite to produce a catalyst, named as DC21. The TiO₂ content of the catalyst DC21, measured by XRF, was 2.40 wt %.

Example A.3.2.5

A catalyst was prepared according to Example A.3.1.2, except that the same amount of Zr(W)Y zeolite was used in place of Zr(6)Y zeolite to produce a catalyst, named as DC31. The ZrO₂ content of the catalyst DC31, measured by XRF, was 2.18 wt %.

The catalysts C11-C61 and DC11-DC31 were pretreated at 800° C. in a 100% steam condition for 8 hours. Then the pretreated catalyst was tested on a small-scale fixed fluidised bed (ACE) for catalyst evaluation. The feedstock for evaluation was Wuhun III, the properties of which were shown in Table A4. Reaction temperature, catalyst-to-oil ratio, WHSV and evaluation result were listed in Table A6. wherein, conversion=gasoline yield+liquefied gas yield+Dry gas yield+coke yield

TABLE A6 Evaluation Result Example A.3.1.2 A.3.1.3 A.3.1.4 A.3.1.5 A.3.1.6 A.3.1.7 A.3.1.8 A.3.1.9 A.3.2.3 A.3.2.4 A.3.2.5 Catalysts C11 C21 C31 C41 C41-1 C41-2 C51 C61 DC11 DC21 DC31 Zeolites Zr(6)Y Zr(10)Y Ti(2)Y Ti(4)Y Ti(4)Y-1 Ti(4)YREY Ti(8)Y Ti—Zr—Y RE(8)Y Ti(W)Y Zr(W)Y Reaction 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 Temp, ° C. Catalyst- 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 to-oil weight ratio WHSV, h⁻¹ 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 Production Distribution, wt % Dry gas 1.35 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.33 1.3 1.32 1.35 1.34 1.34 1.35 liquefied gas 14.04 13.61 13.30 14.43 14.21 13.96 14.52 14.26 13.58 13.35 13.72 coke 6.71 6.86 7.52 7.05 7.13 7.42 6.76 6.71 8.02 7.29 7.12 gasoline 54.11 53.52 52.98 53.44 53.25 53.51 53.24 53.87 52.22 49.87 50.55 diesel 16.76 16.84 16.96 16.65 16.94 16.71 16.94 16.84 16.89 17.19 17.37 Heavy oil 7.03 7.85 7.91 7.09 7.14 7.1 7.22 6.97 7.95 10.96 9.89 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Conversion, 76.21 75.31 75.13 76.26 75.92 76.19 75.84 76.19 75.16 71.85 72.74 wt % coke/ 0.08805 0.09109 0.10009 0.09245 0.09391 0.09739 0.08914 0.08807 0.10671 0.10146 0.09788 conversion B.1 Zeolite Modification

Example B.1.1.1

-   (1) At room temperature, 200 g of NaY zeolite (dry basis, 75 wt %)     and 1500 ml of a hydrochloric acid solution having a molar     concentration of 0.5 mol/L were mixed and stirred for 30 minutes.     After filtering, the filter cake was washed with 1500 ml deionized     water to produce an acid-treated NaY zeolite, which had a Na2O     content of 3.5 wt %; -   (2) The acid-treated NaY zeolite was calcined at 300° C. for 3 hours     to produce a zeolite having a solid content of 96 wt %, named as F1; -   (3) 5.23 g of zirconium nitrate Zr(NO₃)₄.5H₂O was dissolved in 200 g     of ethanol (analytically pure, ethanol content=99.9 wt %) to produce     an impregnation liquor. The impregnation liquor and the treated Y     zeolite F1 were mixed homogenously and kept by standing at room     temperature for 1 hour. -   (4) The product from the step (3) and 800 ml of ethanol were mixed     and transferred to an autoclave, to which nitrogen was introduced.     The pressure was kept at 0.5 MPa. Then the mixture was kept by     standing at room temperature for 12 hours. After filtering, the     filter cake was heat-dried at 100° C. for 24 hours. -   (5) The product from the step (4) was calcined in a nitrogen     atmosphere at 500° C. for 4 hours to produce a Zr-modified Y     zeolite, named as ZrY(1), the properties of which were shown in     Table B2.

Example B.1.1.2 to Example B.1.1.7

With reference to Example B.1.1.1, modified zeolites were prepared according to the process of the present invention. The operation conditions and the product properties were shown in Table B2.

Example B.1.1.8

A modified zeolite was prepared according to Example B.1.1.1, except that in the step (4), nitrogen was introduced and the pressure (gauge pressure) was kept at 0 MPa. The obtained modified zeolite was named as ZrY(1)-1, the properties of which were shown in Table B2.

Example B.1.1.9

A modified zeolite was prepared according to Example B.1.1.1, except that in the step (1):

-   (1) At room temperature, 200 g of NaY zeolite (dry basis, 75 wt %)     and 1500 ml of a EDTA solution having a molar concentration of 0.5     mol/L were mixed and stirred for 30 minutes. After filtering, the     filter cake was washed with 1500 ml deionized water to produce an     acid-treated NaY zeolite, which had a Na2O content of 3.5 wt %;

Steps (2)-(5) were identical to those in Example B.1.1.1. The obtained modified zeolite was named as ZrY(1)-2, the properties of which were shown in Table B2.

Example B.1.2.1

200 g of NaY zeolite (the same as that in Example B.1.1.1) and 2000 g of deionized water were slurried. To the slurry was added 60 g of ammonium sulfate. The resulting slurry was adjusted with diluted hydrochloric acid to pH=4.0, warmed upto to 80° C. and exchanged for 1 hour. After filtering and washing with water, the filter cake was calcined at 550° C. in a 100% steam atmosphere for 2 hours. The above procedure was repeated twice to produce a modified Y zeolite.

Then, the resulting Y zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were slurried. To the slurry was added 45 ml of a RECl₃ solution (270 g/l). The resulting slurry was adjusted with diluted hydrochloric acid to pH=3.8, warmed upto to 80° C. and exchanged for 1 hour. To the mixture was added 45 g of ammonium sulfate, and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 hour. After filtering and washing, the filter cake was calcined at 550° C. in a 100% steam atmosphere for 2 hours. Finally, a rare earth modified REY zeolite was obtained and named as REY, the properties of which were shown in Table B3.

Example B.1.2.2

The modified zeolite was prepared according to B.1.1.2, except that the same amount of zirconium oxychloride ZrOCl₂.8H₂O was dissolved in 200 g of deionized water. Finally, a Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(W)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table B3.

Example B.1.2.3

200 g of NaY zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were slurried. To the resulting slurry was added 60 g NH4Cl. The slurry was adjusted to a pH of 3.8, warmed upto 80° C., and exchanged for 2 hours. After filtering and washing with water, the filter cake was calcined at 600° C. in a 100% steam condition for 2 hours.

The calcined zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were slurried. To the resulting slurry was added 45 g NH4Cl and 31.4 g zirconium oxychloride ZrOCl₂.8H₂O to conduct a second ion-exchange substantially at the same temperature and for the same time as the first exchange. After filtering and washing with water, the filter cake was calcined at 600° C. in a 100% steam condition for 2 hours. Finally, a Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(J)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table B3.

Example B.1.2.4

A Zr-modified Y zeolite was prepared according to Example 1 of CN101134576A. Finally, the Zr-modified zeolite was obtained and named as Zr(G)Y, the properties of which were shown in Table B3.

Example B.1.2.5

200 g of DASY0.0 zeolite was added to 500 g of absolute ethanol under a violent stirring to form a suspension, to which was added 50 g/L of a solution of butyl titanate-absolute ethanol (as TiO₂) under a violent stirring. The mixture was air-dried overnight under stirring. The resulting sample was calcined at 500° C. for 5 hours to produce Ti-modified zeolites with titanium content of 7.9 wt %, named as Ti(D)Y.

It could be seen from the FT-IR spectra of modified Y zeolites in FIG. 1 that the antisymmetric stretching vibration frequency (1050-1150 cm⁻¹) and the symmetric stretching vibration frequency (750-820 cm⁻¹) of the Zr(G)Y zeolite provided in the prior art (e.g. Example B.1.2.4) had a red-shift in a direction toward the lower frequency, showing that Zr entered the framework structure of the Y zeolite. The modified Y zeolites provided by the present invention (e.g. ZrY and TiY) did not show the red shift, showing that Zr and Ti did not enter the framework structure of the zeolite.

It could be seen from the ²⁷Al-NMR spectra of modified Y zeolites in FIG. 2 that the modified Y zeolite had much tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum (chemical shift 60) and little hexahedral-coordinated framework aluminum (chemical shift 0). Compared to the Y zeolite, the peak of tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum of the ZrY zeolite prepared by organic solution impregnation method became wider and moved towards the lower chemical shift, showing that Zr entering the interior of the zeolite interacted with the zeolite framework [AlO4]. This interaction caused the spectrum peak of tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum moves to higher field, meanwhile the spectrum peak of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum was remarkable (chemical shift 40). The ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum could be e.g. 0.1-0.6. Zr(W)Y and Ti(D)Y zeolites, prepared according to Example B.1.2.2 (aqueous solution impregnation) and Example B.1.2.5, had no remarkable change in the peak of distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum, showing that Zr or Ti had little interaction with the zeolite's framework [AlO4], and the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum was less than 0.1. It could be seen that the modification method according to the present invention was more favorable for the metal ions to enter the interior of the zeolite, interact with the zeolite's framework [AlO4], and have an effect of stabilizing the zeolite framework structure.

TABLE B1 Once-exchanged- Raw Material NaY DASY(0.0) once-calcined Elemental composition, wt % Na₂O 12.8 1.2 3.7 Al₂O₃ 21.9 23.6 23.4 SiO₂ 64.4 71.7 72.0 Unit cell size, nm 2.466 2.448 2.453 crystallinity, % 81.6 65.6 78.0 Total specific surface area, 762 620 644 m²/g Total pore volume, ml/g 0.377 0.353 0.352

TABLE B2 Example B.1.1.1 B.1.1.2 B.1.1.3 B.1.1.4 B.1.1.5 Step Y zeolite raw NaY DASY(0.0) Once-exchanged- Once-exchanged- NaY (1) material once-calcined once-calcined Acid solution 0.5 0.1 1.0 0.2 0.5 concentration, mol/L Acid Hydrochloric hydrochloric Oxalic Sulfuric Hydrochloric acid acid acid acid acid Acid 10 10 10 10 10 solution:zeolite weight ratio The content of 3.5 0.6 1.2 0.8 3.5 Na₂O after treatment, wt % Step Calcination 300 300 350 350 300 (2) Temperature, ° C. Calcination time, 3 3 3 3 3 hours Water content, wt % 4 3 1.5 1.5 4 Step Compound zirconium zirconium zirconium zirconium titanium (3) containing IVB nitrate oxychloride isopropoxide isopropoxide tetrachloride group metal Solvent ethanol ethanol n-hexane n-hexane butanone Water content in 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 solvent, wt % Solvent:Zeolite 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.3 weight ratio Metal salt (as 0.01 0.03 0.06 0.10 0.02 oxide):zeolite weight ratio Step Used solvent ethanol ethanol n-hexane n-hexane butanone (4) Solvent:Zeolite 5.1 10.0 10.0 10.0 5.1 weight ratio Introduced Inert nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen Gas Pressure, MPa 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.8 0.5 Temperature, ° C. 26 25 60 25 25 Time, hour 12 8 5 8 5 Manner By Being Being By standing being standing stirred stirred stirred Step Drying 100 120 120 120 100 (4) Temperature, ° C. Drying Time, hour 24 6 6 6 12 Step Inert Gas nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen (5) Calcination 500 550 550 550 500 Temperature, ° C. Calcination Time, 4 2 3 3 3 hour Metal-modified Y zeolite, ZrY(1) ZrY(3) ZrY(6) ZrY(10) TiY(2) No. Na₂O, wt % 1.0 0.5 0.8 0.6 1.2 Al₂O₃, wt % 23.3 23.5 22.2 20.5 22.8 SiO₂, wt % 73.8 72.8 70.5 67.8 73.1 ZrO₂, wt % 0.9 2.8 6.1 10.5 TiO₂, wt % 2.2 α0, nm 2.456 2.448 2.450 2.452 2.451 Crystallinity, % 78.8 64.7 70.6 72.2 76.9 Specific surface area, m²/g 710 616 624 635 702 lattice collapse 1048 1050 1045 1047 1044 temperature, ° C. The ratio of the distorted 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.2 tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum The percent of the 32.5 42.8 48.7 50.3 38.6 secondary pores (pore diameter of 6-20 nm) to the total secondary pores (pore diameter of 2-100 nm) Example B.1.1.6 B.1.1.7 B.1.1.8 B.1.1.9 Step Y zeolite raw material Once-exchanged Once-exchanged- NaY NaY (1) once-calcined once-calcined Acid solution concentration, 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 mol/L Acid acetic acid oxalic acid hydrochloric EDTA acid Acid solution:zeolite weight 10 10 10 10 ratio The content of Na₂O after 1.0 1.0 3.5 3.5 treatment, wt % Step Calcination Temperature, ° C. 350 350 300 300 (2) Calcination time, hours 3 3 3 3 Water content, wt % 1.8 1.5 4 4 Step Compound containing IVB butyl titanate butyl zirconium zirconium (3) group metal titanate + zirconium nitrate nitrate nitrate Solvent cyclohexane ethanol ethanol ethanol Water content in solvent, wt % 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 Solvent:Zeolite weight ratio 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 Metal salt (as oxide):zeolite 0.10 0.08 0.01 0.01 weight ratio Step Used solvent cyclohexane Ethanol ethanol ethanol (4) Solvent:Zeolite weight ratio 10.0 8.0 5.1 5.1 Introduced Inert Gas nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen Pressure, MPa 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 Temperature, ° C. 25 80 26 26 Time, hour 10 24 12 12 Manner Being stirred Being stirred By By standing standing Step Drying Temperature, ° C. 120 120 100 100 (4) Drying Time, hour 6 24 24 24 Step Inert Gas nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen (5) Calcination Temperature, ° C. 550 550 500 500 Calcination Time, hour 2 3 4 4 Metal-modified Y zeolite, No. TiY(10) Ti—Zr—Y ZrY(1)-1 ZrY(1)-2 Na₂O, wt % 1.0 0.8 1.0 0.9 Al₂O₃, wt % 21.5 21.9 23.2 23.4 SiO₂, wt % 67.1 69.0 73.9 73.6 ZrO₂, wt % 3.8 0.9 0.9 TiO₂, wt % 9.8 4.0 α0, nm 2.455 2.455 2.454 2.455 crystallinity, % 73.5 72.9 71.5 77.7 specific surface area, m²/g 642 639 700 699 lattice collapse temperature, ° C. 1045 1050 1045 1048 the ratio of the distorted 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.2 tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum The percent of the secondary 49.8 44.4 35.4 33.9 pores (pore diameter of 6-20 nm) to the total secondary pores (pore diameter of 2-100 nm)

TABLE B3 Example B.1.2.1 B.1.2.2 B.1.2.3 B.1.2.4 B.1.2.5 Y zeolite No. REY Zr(W)Y Zr(J)Y Zr(G)Y Ti(D)Y Na₂O, wt % 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.5 1 Al₂O₃, wt % 21.4 20.6 21.8 20.8 21.5 SiO₂, wt % 70.5 70.2 71 70.7 69.3 ZrO₂, wt % 8 6.2 7.5 TiO₂, wt % 7.9 RE₂O₃, wt % 6.6 α0, nm 2.451 2.45 2.452 2.451 2.453 crystallinity, % 62.7 51.9 55.7 60.2 59.6 specific surface area, m²/g 640 536 548 624 610 lattice collapse temperature, ° C. 1043 1027 1028 1041 1033 the ratio of the distorted 0.05 0.01 0.02 0.01 tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum B.2 Stability of the Modified Zeolite

Modified Y zeolites prepared according to Example B.2.1.1-B.2.1.9 and B.2.2.1-B.2.2.5 were aged at 800° C. under a 100% steam condition for 8 hours and 17 hours respectively to determine the crystallinity and the specific surface area, and the crystallinity retention and the specific surface area retention were calculated. The aged zeolites were subjected to the light oil micro-activity (MA) test. The results were listed in Table B4.

TABLE B4 Example B.2.1.X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Y zeolite ZrY(1) ZrY(3) ZrY(6) ZrY(10) TiY(2) TiY(10) Ti—Zr—Y ZrY(1)-1 ZrY(1)-2 800° C./8 h 61.2 62.8 63.7 68.4 63.1 67.5 68.6 62.0 61.8 crystallinity retention, % 800° C./17 h 55.5 57.0 56.7 62.5 57.6 60.1 60 56.5 56.1 crystallinity retention, % 800° C./8 h specific 62.0 61.3 62.9 69.6 66.1 68 69.6 62.8 61.0 surface area retention, % 800° C./17 h 57.2 56.7 57.6 63.9 59.6 62.2 62.8 57.0 56.4 specific surface area retention, % 800° C./8 h 80 82 84 87 85 86 87 80 80 activity, % 800° C./17 h 76 77 79 82 79 80 81 75 77 activity, % Example B.2.2.X 1 2 3 4 5 Y zeolite REY Zr(W)Y Zr(J)Y Zr(G)Y Ti(D)Y 800° C./8 h crystallinity 63.2 50.4 50.5 60.8 61.6 retention, % 800° C./17 h crystallinity 56.5 45.8 42.5 52.9 53 retention, % 800° C./8 h specific surface 67.1 58 54.2 64.9 62.4 area retention, % 800° C./17 h specific surface 61.2 52.6 49.8 58.2 59.1 area retention, % 800° C./8 h activity, % 85 75 72 80 72 800° C./17 h activity, % 79 68 65 75 66 B.3 Catalyst

Example B.3.1.1

The modified Y zeolite prepared according to the present invention, Zr(6)Y, was used as active component to prepare the catalyst according to the conventional preparation method of the catalytic cracking catalyst. The preparation was as follows.

According to the ratio of zeolite (dry basis):kaolin (dry basis):pseudobohemite (as Al₂O₃):alumina sol (as Al₂O₃) being 38:34:20:8, kaolin and decationized water were mixed and slurried. To the resulting slurry was added alumina sol, and further added pseudoboehmite under a continuous stirring. After 30 minutes of stirring, a liquor containing zeolite was added to the colloid. The resulting mixture was mixed homogenously, spray-dried and shaped to produce a catalyst, named as C1.

Evaluation of Heavy Oil Cracking Performance:

The catalyst was pretreated at 800° C. in a 100% steam condition for 8 hours. Then the pretreated catalyst was tested on a small-scale fixed fluidised bed (ACE) for catalyst evaluation. The feedstock for evaluation was a mixed oil of ZhengHai VGO and DaQing atmospheric residue (80:20 by weight), the properties of which were shown in Table B5. Reaction Temp=500° C., WHSV=16 h⁻¹, Catalyst-to-oil weight ratio=45. The evaluation result was listed in Table B6.

wherein, conversion=gasoline yield+liquefied gasyield+Dry gasyield+coke yield coke selectivity=coke yield×100/conversion

TABLE B5 DaQing Feedstock ZhengHai VGO Atmospheric Residue Density (20° C.), g/cm³ 0.9154 0.8906 Refraction (70° C.) 1.4926 1.4957 (20° C.) Viscosity (100° C.) mm²/s 6.962 24.84 SARA composition, % Saturated hydrocarbons 64.0 51.2 Aromatic hydrocarbons 32.0 29.7 Resin 4.0 18.3 Asphaltene 0.0 0.8 Freezing point, ° C. 35 43 Aniline point, ° C. 82.0 >105 C, wt % 85.38 86.54 H, wt % 12.03 13.03 S, wt % 2.0 0.13 N, wt % 0.16 0.3 Residual Carbon % 0.18 4.3 Distillation range, ° C. Initial distillation point 329 282  5% 363 351 10% 378 370 30% 410 482 50% 436 553 70% 462 — 90% 501 —

Example B.3.1.2

A catalyst was prepared according to Example B.3.1.1, except that the same amount of TiY(2) zeolite was used in place of ZrY(6) zeolite to produce a catalyst C2. Then the evaluation of C2 was done according to Example B.3.1.1. The evaluation result was listed in Table B6.

Example B.3.2.1 to Example B.3.2.3

A series of catalysts were prepared according to Example B.3.1.1, except that the same amount of REY zeolite, the same amount of Zr(W)Y zeolite, and the same amount of Ti(D)Y zeolite were respectively used in place of ZrY(6) zeolite to produce the catalysts DC1, DC2 and DC3. Then the evaluation of DC1-DC3 was done according to Example B.3.1.1. The evaluation result was listed in Table B6.

TABLE B6 Example B.3.1.1 B.3.1.2 B.3.2.1 B.3.2.2 B.3.2.3 Zeolite No. ZrY(6) TiY(2) REY Zr(W)Y Ti(D)Y Catalyst C1 C2 DC1 DC2 DC3 Reaction Temp, ° C. 500 500 500 500 500 Catalyst-to-oil weight 5 5 5 5 5 ratio WHSV, h⁻¹ 16 16 16 16 16 Production Distribution, wt % Dry gas 1.40 1.39 1.38 1.39 1.37 liquefied gas 17.15 16.92 16.53 16.44 16.98 coke 4.52 4.75 5.35 5.16 5.33 gasoline 50.80 49.98 49.70 45.62 48.29 diesel 17.85 18.76 18.64 19.97 18.73 Heavy oil 8.28 8.20 8.40 11.42 9.30 Conversion, wt % 73.87 73.04 72.96 68.61 71.97 Total liquid yield, wt % 85.80 85.66 84.87 82.03 84.00 Coke selectivity 6.12 6.50 7.33 7.52 7.41

Example B.3.1.3

A Zr-modified Y zeolite was prepared according to Example B.1.1.1, named as Zr(2)Y, wherein the weight ratio of zirconium nitrate(as ZrO₂):Y zeolite=0.02:1.

323 g of pseudoboehmite and 1343 g of deionized water were mixed and stirred for 15 minutes to produce a pseudoboehmite slurry. The slurry was adjusted with diluted hydrochloric acid (having a concentration of 15 wt %) to a pH of 3.5, and aged at room temperature for 6 hours. To the aged slurry were added 421 g of kaolin and 465 g of alumina sol. After stirring for 60 minutes, to the resulting slurry was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified ZrY(2) zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 550° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C17. The ZrO₂ content of the catalyst C17, measured by XRF, was 0.75 wt %.

Example B.3.1.4

421 g of kaolin, 465 g of alumina sol and 732 g of deionized water were added to and slurried in a slurry vessel, to which was added 1667 g of an acidified pseudoboehmite. After stirring for 60 minutes, to the vessel was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Zr(6)Y zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 550° C. for 1 hour to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C18. The ZrO₂ content of the catalyst C18, measured by XRF, was 2.18 wt %.

Example B.3.1.5

421 g of kaolin, 558 g of alumina sol and 800 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried for 60 minutes. After adding 1500 g of an acidified pseudobohemite, the resulting slurry was further stirred for 60 minutes. To the resulting mixture was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified ZrY(10) zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 650° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C19. The ZrO₂ content of the catalyst C19, measured by XRF, was 3.52 wt %.

Example B.3.1.6

According to Example B.2.1.5, a Ti-modified Y zeolite was prepared and named as TiY(8), wherein during the impregnation of the step (3), the weight ratio of titanium tetrachloride (as TiO₂) to zeolite was 0.08:1.

421 g of kaolin and 380 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried for 60 minutes. After adding 1667 g of an acidified pseudobohemite, the resulting slurry was further stirred for 30 minutes. To the resulting mixture was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified TiY(8) zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. After stirring for 60 minutes, to the resulting slurry was added 465 g of alumina sol. The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 700° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C20. The TiO₂ content of the catalyst C20, measured by XRF, was 3.02 wt %.

Example B.3.1.7

According to Example B.2.1.5, a Ti-modified Y zeolite was prepared and named as TiY(4), wherein during the impregnation of the step (3), the weight ratio of titanium tetrachloride (as TiO₂) to zeolite was 0.04:1.

323 g of pseudoboehmite and 1478 g of deionized water were mixed. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes to produce a pseudoboehmite slurry, the pH value of which was adjusted with a suitable amount of diluted hydrochloric acid to 3.8. The resulting slurry was aged at 60° C. for 2 hours. To the aged slurry were added 421 g of kaolin and 465 g of alumina sol. The resulting slurry was stirred for 60 minutes. To the above slurry was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified TiY(4) zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. The resulting mixture was stirred for 60 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 600° C. for 3 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C21. The TiO₂ content of the catalyst C21, measured by XRF, was 1.48 wt %.

Example B.3.1.8

According to Example B.2.1.5, a Hf-modified Y zeolite was prepared and named as HfY(6), wherein during the impregnation of the step (3), the weight ratio of hafnium nitrate (as HfO₂) to zeolite was 0.06:1.

421 g of kaolin and 380 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried for 60 minutes. After adding 1667 g of an acidified pseudobohemite, the resulting slurry was further stirred for 30 minutes. To the resulting mixture was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified HfY(6) zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. After stirring for 60 minutes, to the resulting slurry was added 465 g of alumina sol. The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 700° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C22. The HfO₂ content of the catalyst C22, measured by XRF, was 2.11 wt %.

Example B.3.1.9

421 g of kaolin and 380 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried for 60 minutes. After adding 1667 g of an acidified pseudobohemite, the resulting slurry was further stirred for 30 minutes. To the resulting mixture was added a slurry formed by slurrying 380 g (dry basis) of the above modified Ti—Zr—Y zeolite and 800 g of deionized water. After stirring for 60 minutes, to the resulting slurry was added 465 g of alumina sol. The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes to produce a catalyst slurry, which was spray-dried and shaped, and calcined at 700° C. for 2 hours to produce a catalytic cracking catalyst, named as C23. The TiO₂ and ZrO₂ contents of the catalyst C23, measured by XRF, were 1.50 wt % and 1.48 wt % respectively.

Example B.3.1.10 to Example B.3.1.12

A series of catalysts were prepared according to Example B.3.1.3, except that the same amount of ZrY(1), the same amount of ZrY(1)-1 and the same amount of ZrY(1)-2 were respectively used in place of ZrY(2) zeolite to produce the catalysts C24, C25 and C26.

Example B.3.2.4

A catalyst was prepared according to Example B.3.1.4, except that the same amount of Zr(W)Y zeolite was used in place of ZrY(6) zeolite to produce the catalyst DC14. The ZrO₂ content of the catalyst DC14, measured by XRF, was 2.19 wt %.

Example B.3.2.5

500 g of NaY zeolite (dry basis) and 6000 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried. To the resulting slurry was added 200 g of NH₄Cl. The mixture was adjusted to pH=3.8, warmed upto 80° C. to exchange for 2 hours, filtered and washed with water. The above procedure was repeated for three times. The resulting filter cake was calcined at 600° C. under a 100% steam atmosphere for 2 hours. Then, the calcined Y zeolite and 6000 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried. To the slurry was added 150 g NH4Cl and 95.1 g of titanium tetrachloride. The mixture was warmed upto 80° C. to exchange for 3 hours. After filtering and washing, the resulting filter cake was calcined at 600° C., under a 100% steam atmosphere for 2 hours. Finally, a zeolite was obtained and named as Ti(J)Y zeolite.

A catalyst was prepared according to Example B.3.1.6, except that the same amount of Ti(J)Y zeolite was used in place of TiY(8) zeolite to produce the catalyst DC15. The TiO₂ content of the catalyst DC15, measured by XRF, was 1.72 wt %.

Example B.3.2.6

200 g of NaY zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried. To the resulting slurry was added 45 mL of a solution of 270 g/l RECl₃. The mixture was adjusted with a diluted hydrochloric acid to pH=3.8, and warmed upto 80° C. to exchange for 1 hour. After filtering and washing, the resulting filter cake was calcined at 500° C. for 3 hours. Then, the resulting Y zeolite and 2000 g of deionized water were mixed and slurried. To the slurry was added 45 g of ammonium sulfate. The mixture was adjusted with a diluted hydrochloric acid to pH=4.0, and warmed upto 80° C. to exchange for 1 hour. After filtering and washing, the resulting filter cake was calcined at 600° C., under a 100% steam atmosphere for 3 hours. Finally, a RE-modified zeolite was obtained and named as REY(8).

According to the ratio of zeolite (dry basis):kaolin (dry basis):pseudobohemite (as Al₂O₃):alumina sol (as Al₂O₃) being 38:34:20:8, kaolin and decationized water were mixed and slurried. To the resulting slurry was added alumina sol, and further added pseudoboehmite under a continuous stirring. After about 30 minutes of stirring, a liquor containing zeolite was added to the colloid. The resulting mixture was mixed homogenously, spray-dried and shaped to produce a catalyst, named as DC16.

The catalysts C17-C26 and DC14-DC16 were pretreated at 800° C. in a 100% steam condition for 17 hours. Then the pretreated catalysts were tested on a small-scale fixed fluidised bed (ACE) for catalyst evaluation. The feedstock for evaluation was Wuhun III, the properties of which were shown in Table B7. Reaction temperature=500° C., and the catalyst-to-oil weight ratio=5. The evaluation result was listed in Table B8.

wherein, conversion=gasoline yield+liquefied gas yield+Dry gas yield+coke yield coke selectivity=coke yield/conversion

TABLE B7 Feedstock's properties Feedstock Wuhun III density (20° C.), g/cm³ 0.9044 Refraction (20° C.) 1.5217 Viscosity (100° C.), mm²/s 9.96 Freezing point, ° C. 40 Aniline point, ° C. 95.8 C, wt % 85.98 H, wt % 12.86 S, wt % 0.55 N, wt % 0.18 Residual Carbon, wt % 3.0 Distillation range, ° C. Initial distillation point 243  5% 294 10% 316 30% 395 50% 429 70% 473 90% —

TABLE B8 Evaluation Result Example B.3.1.3 B.3.1.4 B.3.1.5 B.3.1.6 B.3.1.7 B.3.1.8 B.3.1.9 Catalyst No. C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 Modified Y Zeolite No. ZrY(2) ZrY(6) ZrY(10) TiY(8) TiY(4) HfY(6) Ti—Zr—Y Reaction Temp, ° C. 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 Catalyst-To-Oil Ratio 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 (Weight) WHSV, h⁻¹ 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 Production Distribution, wt % Dry Gas 1.25 1.12 1.29 1.22 1.10 1.18 1.20 Liquefied Gas 12.04 13.05 11.53 12.09 12.41 12.48 12.35 Coke 5.09 4.26 4.95 4.96 5.01 4.85 4.99 Gasoline 53.99 54.61 54.59 54.44 54.07 53.95 54.11 Diesel 21.41 20.98 21.58 21.34 21.84 21.69 21.36 Heavy Oil 6.22 5.98 6.06 5.95 5.57 5.85 5.99 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Conversion, wt % 72.37 73.04 72.36 72.71 72.59 72.46 72.65 Coke/Conversion 0.07033 0.05832 0.06841 0.06822 0.06902 0.06693 0.06869 Example B.3.1.10 B.3.1.11 B.3.1.12 B.3.2.4 B.3.2.5 B.3.2.6 Catalyst No. C24 C25 C26 DC14 DC15 DC16 Modified Y Zeolite No. ZrY(1) ZrY(1)-1 ZrY(1)-2 Zr(W)Y Ti(J)Y RE(8)Y Reaction Temp, ° C. 500 500 500 500 500 500 Catalyst-To-Oil Ratio (Weight) 5 5 5 5 5 5 WHSV, h⁻¹ 16 16 16 16 16 16 Production Distribution, wt % Dry Gas 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.32 1.18 1.10 Liquefied Gas 11.81 11.79 11.89 11.78 12.03 11.66 Coke 4.62 4.52 4.71 5.88 5.25 5.45 Gasoline 54.15 54.21 54.48 50.57 50.30 53.08 Diesel 21.88 21.91 21.28 22.01 22.12 21.46 Heavy Oil 6.33 6.35 6.41 8.44 9.12 7.25 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 Conversion, wt % 71.79 71.74 72.31 69.55 68.76 71.29 Coke/Conversion 0.06435 0.06301 0.06514 0.08454 0.07635 0.0764 

We claim:
 1. A metal modified Y zeolite, comprising: 1-15 wt % of IVB group metal, calculated as a total weight of oxides of the IVB group metal over a total weight of the metal modified Y zeolite, wherein the IVB group metal modifies the zeolite, a ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than 0.2, and a framework of the metal modified Y zeolite is free of Ti.
 2. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, wherein the metal modified Y zeolite has a lattice structure containing a distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum and a tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum, a ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the zeolite lattice structure is 0.2-0.8.
 3. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, having a specific surface area of 600-850 m²/g, a unit cell size of 2.448-2.458 nm, a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of 5-50, a plurality of secondary pores having pore diameters of 2-100 nm, wherein a percentage of the secondary pores having a pore diameter of 6-20 nm to a total of the secondary pores is 30-50%, and a crystallinity of not less than 60%.
 4. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, having an anhydrous chemical composition formula, as oxide and by weight, of (0-2)Na₂O.(1-15)MO₂.(10-25)Al₂O₃.(65-75)SiO₂ or (0.1-1.2)Na₂O.(1-10)MO₂.(20-24)Al₂O₃.(67-74)SiO₂, wherein M is the IVB group metal, which is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Rf, and combinations thereof.
 5. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, wherein the IVB group metal is Ti, Zr, or a combination Ti and Zi, and the metal modified Y zeolite is free of framework Ti, framework Zr, or both.
 6. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, wherein the weight percentage of the IVB group metal as oxide is 1-10 wt %.
 7. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, wherein the modifying metal is Ti, Zr, or a combination Ti and Zi, wherein relative to the non-modified Y zeolite, an antisymmetric stretching vibration frequency at 1050-1150 cm⁻¹ or a symmetric stretching vibration frequency at 750-820 cm⁻¹ in an infrared spectrum of the metal modified Y zeolite do not red-shift toward a lower frequency.
 8. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, wherein the IVB group metal comprises Ti, Zr, or both.
 9. A process for preparing a metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, comprising: (1) dewatering a Y-zeolite so that the dewatered Y zeolite has a water content of not higher than 5% by weight; (2) contacting the dewatered Y zeolite obtained from step (1) with a mixture of a compound containing IVB group metal and an organic solvent, and the resulting mixture is optionally filtered and/or dried; (3) calcining the Y zeolite obtained from step (2) at 300-700° C.; (4) contacting the Y zeolite obtained from step (3) with an aqueous acid solution, and then calcining at 400-800° C. to produce the metal-modified Y zeolite containing the IVB group metal, wherein a concentration of the aqueous acid solution, as H⁺, is 0.1-2.0 mol/L.
 10. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (2), a weight ratio of the compound containing IVB group metal, the Y zeolite, and the organic solvent is 0.01-0.15:1:1-50, wherein the weight of the compound containing IVB group metal is calculated as oxide, and the weight of the Y zeolite is calculated in a dry basis.
 11. The process of claim 10, wherein in the step (2), the weight ratio of the compound containing IVB group metal (as oxide): the Y zeolite (dry basis): the organic solvent is 0.01-0.1:1:5-30.
 12. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (2), the compound containing IVB group metal, the organic solvent, and the Y zeolite are mixed at a temperature in a range from room temperature to 100° C. for at least 0.5 hour.
 13. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (2), the mixture of the compound containing IVB group metal and the organic solvent is filtered and/or dried once or more than once.
 14. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (3), the calcination temperature is 350-650° C., the calcination time is 2-4 hours, the calcination atmosphere is a dried air and/or an inert gas.
 15. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (4), a weight ratio of the Y zeolite obtained from step (3) to the aqueous acid solution is 1:5-20, a contact temperature is in a range from room temperature to 100° C., a contact time is at least 0.5 hour; the aqueous acid solution has an acid concentration, as H⁺, of 0.1-2 mol/L.
 16. The process of claim 9, wherein the aqueous acid solution has an acid concentration, as H⁺, of 0.5-2 mol/L.
 17. The process of claim 9, wherein the organic solvent is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, ethers, esters, and halogenated alkanes.
 18. The process of claim 9, wherein the organic solvent is selected from one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of n-hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, butanone, and trichloromethane.
 19. The process of claim 9, wherein the organic solvent has a normal boiling point of 40-100° C.
 20. The process of claim 9, wherein the organic solvent has a water content of not more than 5 wt %.
 21. The process of claim 9, wherein the organic solvent has a water content of not more than 1 wt %.
 22. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (2), contacting the dewatered Y zeolite obtained from step (1) and the mixture of the compound containing IVB group metal and the organic solvent is carried out at a temperature at which the organic solvent in a liquid state.
 23. The process of claim 9, wherein the compound containing IVB group metal comprises a Ti-containing compound and/or a Zr-containing compound.
 24. The process of claim 23, wherein the Ti-containing compound is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of titanium sulfate, titanyl sulfate, titanium tetrachloride, titanium trichloride, tetrabutyl titanate, ammonium fluotitanate, and the Zr-containing compound is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium sulphate, zirconium nitrate, zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, and zirconium isopropoxide.
 25. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (1), the Y zeolite is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of NaY zeolite, NaHY zeolite, NaNH₄Y zeolite, NH₄Y zeolite, and HY zeolite.
 26. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (1), the dewatered Y zeolite has a water content of not more than 1 wt %.
 27. The process of claim 9, wherein in the step (4), the calcination is conducted in a 1-100% steam atmosphere.
 28. A catalytic cracking catalyst, based on the total weight of the catalyst, containing 10-60 wt % of a metal-modified Y zeolite of claim 1, 10-60 wt % of a clay, and 5-50 wt % of a binder.
 29. The catalyst of claim 28, further comprising additional molecular sieves chosen from Y-type molecular sieves, MFI-structured molecular sieves, SAPO molecular sieves, or mixtures thereof.
 30. The catalyst of claim 28, wherein the content of the additional molecular sieves is not more than 40 wt %.
 31. A method for preparing the catalytic cracking catalyst, comprising: preparing a metal-modified Y zeolite of claim 1, mixing and slurrying the metal-modified Y zeolite and a clay and a binder, and spray-drying the resulting mixture.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the clay is selected from the group consisting of kaolin, halloysite, rectorite, diatomite, montmorillonite, bentonite, sepiolite, and mixtures thereof; and the binder is selected from the group consisting of hydrated alumina, alumina sol, pseudobohemite, bohemite, alumina trihydrate, amorphous aluminum hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.
 33. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, having a specific surface area of 600-850 m²/g, a unit cell size of 2.448-2.458 nm, a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of 5-50, a plurality of secondary pores having pore diameters of 2-100 nm, wherein a percentage of the secondary pores having a pore diameter of 6-20 nm to a total of the secondary pores is 50-65%, and a crystallinity of not less than 60%.
 34. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, having a specific surface area of 600-750 m²/g, a unit cell size of 2.450-2.455 nm, a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of 5-50, a plurality of secondary pores having pore diameters of 2-100 nm, wherein a percentage of the secondary pores having a pore diameter of 6-20 nm to a total of the secondary pores is 50-65%, and a crystallinity of not less than 60%.
 35. The metal modified Y zeolite of claim 1, having a specific surface area of 600-750 m²/g, a unit cell size of 2.450-2.455 nm, a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of 5-50, a plurality of secondary pores having pore diameters of 2-100 nm, wherein a percentage of the secondary pores having a pore diameter of 6-20 nm to a total of the secondary pores is 30-50%, and a crystallinity of not less than 60%. 